Jack Clarke is still a huge talking point for Sunderland fans. But they’re no longer mulling over his class. Instead, they’re wondering what’s gone wrong for him at Ipswich Town.
Jack Clarke is certainly enduring a rough spell with new club Ipswich Town, where he’s claimed just two assists in 16 Premier League appearances this season, with no goals to his name either.
Ipswich Town paid £20million for Clarke, as Sunderland ended the long-standing saga of whether or not Clarke would stay at the Stadium of Light. But his presence hasn’t been sorely missed with Tommy Watson, Romaine Mundle, and Wilson Isidor having all stepped up to the plate for Regis Le Bris.
Meanwhile at Portman Road, Ipswich Town fans have criticised Clarke’s performances, with some even suggesting that he should return to Wearside on a loan deal. But a possible Clarke return to Sunderland on loan has been almost completely ruled out.
Now though, Le Bris and Kristjaan Speakman could be about to welcome the next best thing, with a move for Louie Barry.
Louie Barry labelled ‘the closest thing to Jack Clarke’ for Sunderland
For a few weeks now, Sunderland have been linked with Barry at Aston Villa. The 21-year-old winger is back at Villa Park following a loan spell at Stockport County in the first half of the 2024/25 season, where he scored 15 goals in league One.
Several Championship clubs want to sign Barry with Sunderland one of them. But speaking on NTT20 Podcast recently, journalist Ali Maxwell has suggested that Sunderland would be the perfect place for Barry to go in January.
Maxwell thinks Leeds have too many similar players, and that neither Middlesbrough nor Sheffield United need the former Barcelona gem. He then said: “I think the answer is Sunderland. Barry is the closest thing to Jack Clarke that I can really think of. I think he would thrive playing for Sunderland.
“Sunderland and Louie Barry for me would be an incredible fit.”
Aston Villa’s stance on Louie Barry exit
What Villa plan to do with Barry in January remains something of a mystery. For a while it was reported that he’d be sent out on loan, though subsequent reports stated that Aston Villa want to sell Barry.
Whether that remains the case is unknown right now. But it’s been claimed that Villa only want £7million for Barry which could make him an affordable target for a lot of clubs in the Championship, Sunderland possibly included. Per Salary Sport, Barry earns £10k-a-week at Villa, which also puts him within the Black Cats’ price range.
Right now though, it seems like Sunderland are focussing their attentions on Enzo Le Fee, with the Roma midfielder tipped to join the Black Cats on loan.